Aging alters gastrocnemius muscle hemoglobin oxygen saturation (StO2) characteristics in healthy individuals

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2022-06, Vol.122 (6), p.1509-1520
• Main Authors: Holmes, Michael, Koutakis, Panagiotis, Ismaeel, Ahmed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aging; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Female; Fitness equipment; Gastrocnemius muscle; Hemoglobin; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Human Physiology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infrared spectroscopy; Male; Middle age; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Oxygen; Oxygen - metabolism; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Oxygen Saturation; Skeletal muscle; Sports Medicine; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-022-04944-0

Purpose Functional limitations during exercise from alterations in the balance of oxygen supply and demand—as reported by lower tissue oxygen saturation and longer recovery time—are well documented in clinical populations. We aimed to assess changes in skeletal muscle hemoglobin oxygen saturation (StO 2 ) characteristics during exercise as a result of aging in otherwise healthy individuals. Methods We recruited healthy male and female participants ( n  = 101) from three age ranges—young (18–39 years), middle age (40–65 years), and older (> 65 years)—to complete exercise tests commonly used in clinical populations. Using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) we assessed StO 2 in the medial gastrocnemius during the Gardner Treadmill Protocol and 6 min walk test (6MWT). Results Minimum StO 2 (%) during the treadmill test was significantly lower for both middle-age (36.1 ± 20.6) and older (27.3 ± 19.4) participants compared to young (46.8 ± 14.8) ( p